On the afternoon of July 1st, the Inauguration Ceremony of United Nations Academic Impact Membership and the Opening of the 2nd International Youth Leadership Program took place in Guohui Hall on the 3rd floor of International Center. Mr. Maher Nasser, Director of the Outreach Division in the United Nations Department of Public Information; Mr. Hasan Ferdous, Deputy Chief of United Nations Academic Impact; Dr. Kevin Myers, Director of Undergraduate Studies in the School of Education, University of Birmingham; Prof. Chen Guangju, Vice President of Beijing Normal University; Prof. Wang Xiumei, Director of Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, Beijing Normal University with her colleagues—Dr. Prof. Wang Jun (Deputy Director) and Prof. Liu Lengxin (Director of International Education Center); Prof. Yu Lihong, Director of Teaching Affairs Office, Beijing Normal University; Prof. Tu Qingyun, President of Beijing Normal University Zhuhai; Prof. Fu Ailan, Vice President of Beijing Normal University Zhuhai; Dr. Dai Wei, Vice Chairperson of the University Council and heads of relevant departments attended the ceremony with participants of the program from home and abroad. The ceremony was jointly hosted by Chinese and Foreign representatives of the students.

Mr. Maher Nasser made a speech on behalf of the UN and said that the Program’s overall goal—to promote cross-cultural communication and collaborative academic research—and its focus on cultivating a new generation of youth leaders ready to embrace social responsibility, clearly resonate with the ideals of the United Nations and that of the United Nations Academic Impact.

He emphasized that the United Nations appreciates the university’s critical role as educators and is fully committed to partnering with BNUZ in promoting its global agenda.

As vice president of Beijing Normal University and the director of the Program Committee, Prof. Chen Guangju was entrusted by the Program’s Chief Conductor—Prof. Liu Chuansheng—Chairperson of the University Council of the CPC Beijing Normal University Committee to express heartfelt congratulations to the official launch of the 2nd International Youth Leadership Program on behalf of Beijing Normal University. He said that last summer, when he was the president of BNUZ, he witnessed the complete success of the First International Youth Leadership Program. During the program, participants learned from each other and shared growth together in a friendly environment for international cooperation. He hoped that this year’s International Youth Leadership Program will continue to strive for “encouraging win-win cooperation and scaling new heights of academic research” as always.

Prof. Tu Qingyun also extended warm welcome to Mr. Nasser and Mr. Ferdous from the UN, Dr. Myers from the University of Birmingham, leaders of Beijing Normal University, and young friends from Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Birmingham. Prof. Tu claimed that this year’s program will provide us a new impetus to achieve our goals, to broaden students’ horizon, to stimulate their awareness of international cooperation, and to generate new development opportunities for each participant. He also hoped that hope that every participant of this program can make full use of their potential, make joint efforts with each other and make tremendous achievements together.

In the opening ceremony, JP Hogan,a student from Harvard University, Xue Hanting, a student from BNUZ delivered a speech for overseas participants and Chinese participants respectively. They looked back on the 2012 International Youth Leadership Program and gave a brief introduction of the program. At the same time, they expressed their wishes that all participants of this year could work out the research topics hand in hand and demonstrate the capability and cross-culture communication skills of current university students.

At the end, Mr. Maher Nasser, Mr. Hasan Ferdous, Dr.Kevin Myers, Prof. Chen Guangju,Prof. Tu Qingyun, Prof. Fu Ailan and other representatives handed over the program flag to the program participant representatives,which marks the formal start of the 20-day International Youth Leadership Program.

In the morning of July 1st, guests also viewed the picture exhibition of 2012 International Youth Leadership Program which was set on the second floor of BNUZ Library. Moreover, they also listened to the report of related program leaders and communicated with program participants this year and last year. Prof. Wang Xiumei,director of Office of International Exchange and Cooperation at BNU spoke highly of the 2012 International Youth Leadership Program when receiving the interview. She said, activities like that could help to display China’s culture and enhance international exchange as well as develop student’s international insight,thus help the internationalization of BNU and BNUZ.

International Youth Leadership Program is an activity initiated by Beijing Normal University(Beijing and Zhuhai) and participated by students from top universities such as Harvard University, Oxford University, University of Birmingham etc. It aims to build up a platform for cross-culture communication and cooperative research among university students, thus help to develop future young leaders who can assume responsibility for the society, nation as well as human. The mission of this activity is to provoke individual potential,respect colorful culture, focus on community development and develop future elite. During the 20-day activity(the former 15 days at Zhuhai, next 5 days at Beijing), 13 program participants from Harvard University, Oxford University, University of Birmingham and 100 participants from Beijing Normal University(Beijing and Zhuhai) will attend lectures on youth leadership and carry out cooperative research and present achievement presentation together.